Humanist Society Scotland Celebrant Ross Wright and his husband, Efrain Acosta, holding hands and laughing while guests throw flowers as confetti

20 years of legal humanist marriages recognised at Holyrood

June 11, 2025

Ceremonies

We are delighted that humanist MSP Elena Whitham has lodged a motion at Holyrood recognising 20 years of legal humanist marriages in Scotland.

This year represents a major milestone for our organisation, as we mark 20 years of legal humanist marriages in Scotland. Since 2005 our celebrants have delivered over 50,000 legal humanist wedding ceremonies. That’s over 100,000 people who have been able to marry in a way that reflects their love, beliefs and values.

Humanist weddings were legalised in 2005, and equal marriage in 2014, thanks to campaigning led by Humanist Society Scotland and other like-minded organisations. It’s hard to believe that in most countries humanist marriage is still not legal, including other parts of the UK. We are proud we were able to help make these changes happen in our own country.

Elena Whitham MSP has worked with us on a number of recent causes. Last month, she delivered a highly moving speech on her late mother’s battle with cancer, as she spoke out in support of Liam McArthur MSP’s assisted dying bill. Elena also delivered a lecture at our 2024 Festival of Humanism.

Elena’s motion proposes:

“That the Parliament marks 20 years of legal humanist marriage in Scotland; understands that humanism is a non-religious worldview guided by reason, compassion and a belief in the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings; notes that the first legally recognised humanist wedding took place on 18 June 2005, following a decision of the Registrar General to authorise 12 Humanist Society Scotland celebrants to conduct legal marriage ceremonies; recognises that Humanist Society Scotland has over 18,000 active members, and that, since legal recognition, its 133 celebrants have married over 100,000 people in Scotland, including some of the first same-sex civil partnerships and marriages; commends what it sees as the valuable contribution made by Humanist Society Scotland celebrants in delivering personalised and meaningful ceremonies in line with couples’ values and beliefs; notes that, in 2023, more humanist weddings were conducted in Scotland (7,691) than all other belief-based marriages combined (6,811); considers that the significant demand for humanist weddings reflects Scotland’s increasingly secular profile, with 51.1% of people saying that they have no religion according to the 2022 Census, and calls on the UK Government to follow Scotland’s lead and give non-religious couples in England and Wales the choice of a legal humanist marriage ceremony.”

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